NEW WAY to tie a fleece blanket

i was shown by a volunteer last week at the project linus blanket night how to tie a fleece blanket that's MUCH easier than the original tied way. so here we go...

start with your fleece. i bought 1 1/2 yds for the top with a coordinating 1 1/2 yds for the backing.

square up your corners and cut a 4x4 inch square.
to make your ties, cut 4 inch strips, 1 inch wide.

fold both layers of the tie up and cut a slit around 1/4-1/2 inch long.

lay your tie back out flat.

pull both layers of fleece up and through the slit

this is what it should look like...

continue that all the way around the 4 sides and you're all done!

Cub Scout/Boy Scout Mother's Pin Necklace

last month at my nephews court of honor my sister-in-law had on a necklace i just knew i had to make! (even though it'll be 7 years til i have a scout, lol) she was nice enough to share the link, so thank you to her for that! the instructions i followed are over at the creative chicks at play blog. for the directions, click here.

instead of your scout pinning you and possibly snagging whatever you have on, (and the awkwardness of his hand in your shirt, lol) just have him pin the necklace. and it's a great way to keep track of your pins and show off your sons accomplishments at every scout event.

here's my sister-in-laws necklace...

as you see, it's almost completed. can't wait to have an eagle scout nephew next year! way to go T!

Morning Sickness.... HELP!

So being pregnant is part of being a Homemaking Honeys isnt it? I am pregnant and experiencing the dreaded morning sickness (Lucky me). So On my personal blog I have asked for advise as to what has help each of my family memebers and dear friends with their morning sickness and as a result I am sitting here sipping on a peppermint tea, which is really yummy might I add. But it still isnt taking the sickness away. So I thought I would put the questions out to each of you, my blogging buddies. What has helped you with morning sickness? I find the only time I dont notice it is when I am asleep. I have it all day long and if one of the other 2 children wakes up in the night it takes me ages to fall back asleep because I feel so sick. I cant wait to hear your ideas.

By the way In the next few months I feel a lot of baby projects coming on. Once of course i get passed this stage!

Chicken Enchillada Soup

This recipe is so delish!! Honest it is to D-I-E for!! Well if you like Mexican! Anywat here you go. Let me know what you think!!

1 - 15 oz can of black beans rinsed and drained
1- 14 1/2 oz can of diced tomatoes (the kind with onions r the best!)
1- 10oz bag of frozen corn
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped red green or yellow pepper. I use red cause it matches!
1- 10 oz jar of enchillada sauce (red)
1 - 10.75 oz can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup shredded Pepper jack cheese
2 chicken breast


In crock pot put the beans, tomatoes, corn, onion and peppers. Place on top of that 2 raw chicken breast. In a bowl mix the enchillada sauce and soup. Slowly add the milk. Pour the enchillada sauce mix over the other ingredients in your crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours for high for 3-4 hours. Take out the chicken and shred it and then put it back in the slow cooker until you are ready to serve. Top with the grated cheese and if you want ( which I always do) crushed tortilla chips. I also put sour cream on top! SO GOOD!

Enjoy!!

Valentines Swag

In an attempt to decorate my house for all the holidays this year I have had to make another Valentines Day craft. This time I did a Valentines Day Swag to hang on my mantle.

This was so simple!! All I did was get some scrapboking paper and cute it into hearts. I glued them into a design that I liked and then I laminated them so that I can use them again next year. Next I got some cute pink and red ribbon and tied each of the hearts together and then hung it from the mantle. I think it turned out really cute.

Now I just need to think of something to do on top of my mantle so that it is more Valentines like. My living room is done in black and duck egg blue so the blue candles on top of my mantle dont go at all and they are so coming down today and going to be replaced with red ones!!

I hope you like this idea. If you have any Valentines Day ideas please share them with us all!!

Valentines Day Wreath

So I am starting to get in the mood for Valentine's Day and have been itching to get some Valentines Day crafts sorted out. So I thought I would end my week by doing this one first. A Valentines Day Wreath! I made the same sort of wreath for Halloween but this one turned out way nicer! It is so simple to make too.

What you will need:



1 yard / meter of Red, Pink and White
1 Wire Hanger
Wooden hearts or whatever else you want to decorate your wreath with


All you have to do is cut the Red Pink and White material into strips about 3 inches long and 1 inche wide. I didnt measure because you dont have to be precise.

Next bend your wire hanger into the shape of a circle. Again no perfection needed because when it is all covered up you wont really be able to tell if it is a perfect circle or not.



Next tie all your material pieces onto your hanger. Keep them really close together and get as many strips as you can tied on. The more the fuller your wreath is and the better it looks! I promise!

Next using a hot glue gun glue on the pieces you have with which to decorate your wreath.




That is it. You are now ready to hang your Valentines Day wreath on your door! Have fun doing this. It is easy, quick and really fun. To get the full effect and to see this wreath best click on the picture!



I have 3 other Valentines Day crafts on the go at the moment. Hopefully I will be able to finish them next week and share them with you! Exciting I know. I can hardley control the excitment!

New Podcast

I know this isnt very Homemaking Honeys like but as the creater of this blog I wanted to share a new podcast which my husband and I have. In this podcast my husband and I along with 2 or 3 guests each week talk about the funniest stories in the news. Last weeks included the floor falling out from underneith a group of weight watchers at their weekly weigh in. It really is so funny!! Please go and check it out at http://www.ab0rt.com/ If you like it please join the Facebook group and share the link with your friends! Also I would LOVE to know what you think about it. And if you would like to be a guest with a funny story you might have then please email me! alisha@homemakinghoneys.com I would love to have any of you be a guest!

Edible Play Dough

So I dont know about where you are but here in the UK the weather has been FREEZING. Literally. They say this is the coldest winter in 30 years. WOW!! The schools have been shut and in fact my daughter only just went back from her Christmas holidays today. In the meantime I have been trying to find things to do with her (6years old) and my little boy (2 years old) After exhausting all the resources and playing outside until we were almost frost bitten I decided lets make some edible play dough. Mine LOVED IT! They loved being able to play with the play dough and eat it at the same time. I have to admit it is pretty Yummy! Plus it is just made from things which most people, myself included, have in the pantry at home! Here is the recipe I use!

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, using your hands. Dough should feel soft and pliable. Form shapes and be creative!

We got chocolate chips out, Sprinkles, marshmallows whatever we could find around the house for them to eat as well. It is so much fun!

Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container.

I know what you are thinking... It cant be that easy but honest it is! Enjoy! Oh and try not eat too much! :)

Crumb Cake

It is officially the winter here in England. Frozen windsheild in the morning, smells of wood burning in the wood burning stoves, Children watching their breath as they walk to school. You know all those lovely things which come in the winter. One of my favorit things in the winter is Hot Chocolate. I also enjoy a cake of some sort with it and this is one of my favorit cakes!! It is so moist and so delish! Honest try making it yourself and see if you can limit yourself to just one piece!!

Crumb Cake

Ingredients:

CAKE
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla

TOPPING
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups biscuit mix
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4-1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Cream butter and sugar.
Beat eggs and milk; mix with butter.
In another bowl, mix flour and baking powder, then add to butter mixture.
Stir in vanilla.
Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13 pan.
For crumb topping: Cut butter into sugar, biscuit mix, and cinnamon.
Sprinkle over batter in pan.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until done.
Top with the 1/4 - 1/2 C powdered sugar when cool.

Enjoy!

Candy Cane Reindeer

Every Christmas since my 6 year old has been in school she has wanted to make and take a gift for every child in her school class. So each year we make these bad boys and she gives them out to her friends at school. They are really cute and fun for her to make. She gives them out with her Christmas Cards.

I know that you probably all know how to make them but for those of you who dont here is how I do them:

What you'll need:

Low temp hot glue gun

Ribbons or yarn for hanging

1 wrapped candy cane (this has to be wrapped around the candy, not a 'bagged' candy cane)

1 tiny pom-pom for the nose

2 little wiggle eyes (or paper eyes drawn and cut out)

Brown pipe cleaners for the antlers

How to make it:

Look at the picture above - make antlers out of pipe cleaners, wrap them around the candy cane on the curve and glue them.

Add two wiggle eyes and a pom-pom nose.

You're done!

These can be added to packages or cards or used as table center pieces.